Buying guide for best freezers
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For many families, a freezer is an indispensable appliance. You can save money by buying in bulk or freezing fully prepared meals for easy weekday dinners. Freezers come in different styles and sizes, and many include a host of features that you may or may not need. Finding the one that’s right for your family means taking into account your available space, storage needs, and the number of people in your household.
If you’re ready to buy but don’t know where to begin your search, you’ve come to the right place. At BestReviews, we talk to experts, assess customer opinions, and test products to find the best of the best. We don’t accept free manufacturer samples so that we can bring you honest, objective feedback.
We’ve provided a shopping guide to help you know what type and size of freezer would work best for your family. Be sure to take a look at our top picks to see the freezers we think are most worthy of your hard-earned money.
Types of freezers
Upright freezers
Pros:
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Same floor space as average refrigerator (about 6.25 square feet).
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Easy to organize because shelves and drawers provide easy access.
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Variety of finishes to match other appliances.
Cons:
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More temperature variation, especially near door
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Less efficient than chest freezers
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Sometimes noisier than chest freezers
Chest freezers
Pros:
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More usable space (fewer shelves and dividers)
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More consistent temperature (making freezer burn less likely)
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Manual defrost
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Quieter than uprights
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Stay cold longer during power outage (with lid closed)
Cons:
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More difficult to organize
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Easy to lose items that fall to the bottom
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Take up more floor space than uprights (about 12 square feet vs. 6.25 square feet)
Portable freezers
Pros:
Cons:
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Not very efficient
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Not a lot of choices
We consider three types of freezers. Upright freezers are great for tight spaces. Chest freezers are the best for consistent temperatures. Portable freezers are ideal for use in multiple locations.
We note the size of each freezer to help determine if it’s a good choice for your space and family size. A compact/small freezer is 5 to 9 cubic feet, a medium freezer is 12 to 18 cubic feet, and a large freezer is more than 18 cubic feet.
Typically, chest freezers are best at holding consistent temperatures, which makes them ideal for areas that experience frequent power outages.
We note whether a freezer door has a lock or secure closing system. Families with children appreciate these.
Chest freezers tend to be the most efficient, but keep in mind that most freezers are 17% less energy-efficient than advertised.
Some freezers require manual defrosting, which is time-consuming. Others have a self-defrosting/auto-defrost setting, but these cost more.
We investigate the freeze control of each freezer and its options. Some models offer soft-freeze (for ice creams, butter, or anything you don’t want rock- solid) and/or quick freeze.
We look at dividers, bins, and shelves. The more sections you can divide the freezer into, the easier it is to store and organize your food.
Some freezers offer a convertible button, which changes the function from freezer to fridge; this is ideal for entertaining in large numbers and defrosting many different things at the same time. We assess how well the feature works.
We consider whether a freezer has a vapor lock, which keeps air from escaping. Although this is an effective, energy-efficient feature, it can make your freezer harder to open.
Freezer features to consider
Size
Freezers come in three basic sizes:
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Compact/Small (5 to 9 cubic feet)
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Medium (12 to 18 cubic feet)
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Large (over 18 cubic feet)
To find the right size for you, you’ll need to take a few different factors into account. Most important is how much floor space you have for the freezer. A chest freezer would make a good choice for a garage, while a space-saving upright would work better in a utility room. Also consider the food storage needs of your family. As a general rule, you’ll need 1.5 cubic feet of freezer space per family member.
Temperature consistency
Chest freezers are better at holding a consistent temperature. In uprights, the area near the door can be a few degrees warmer than the back of the shelves. Self-defrosting uprights regularly experience a small temperature shift when the fans turn on to defrost the evaporator.
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Power outages pose a problem for frozen food. Freezers with a good seal around the door can usually keep food cold until the power comes back on. Chest freezers are better at this, but some uprights also perform well. Many manufacturers boast that, in a power outage, their freezers can keep food cold for up to 24 hours under ideal conditions (door or lid closed). In reality, the freezer will probably keep your food cold for a shorter time. Some uprights lose their ability to safely freeze food after about nine hours. If you live in an area known for prolonged power outages, a chest freezer is probably a better choice.
Energy efficiency
Chest freezers are more energy efficient overall. Keep in mind that most freezers don’t meet the manufacturer’s claims for energy efficiency. In fact, most freezers are about 17% less energy efficient than stated claims because the advertised energy efficiency is based on ideal conditions.
Organization
Keeping food organized makes it easier to find what you need when you need it and helps prevent waste. Chest freezers present more of an organizing challenge than uprights. Look for a model with as many dividers, bins, and shelves as possible to provide easy access to everything in the freezer.
Door lock
A lock gives you extra reassurance that the freezer door is securely shut. Families with small children will appreciate a mechanism that keeps little ones from opening the door (and leaving it open).
Defrost
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Manual: All chest freezers and some upright models must be defrosted manually. These freezers are more energy efficient and less expensive, with better temperature consistency and fewer instances of freezer burn. You’ll need to regularly turn off the freezer, empty it, let any frost melt and drain, and clean the freezer, which can be a time-consuming process.
- Self-Defrosting (Frost Free/Auto Defrost): Self-defrosting upright freezers are more expensive because they defrost automatically. This saves you hours of work, but because of the on/off cycling of air in the freezer, the temperature tends to fluctuate more in this model. The combination of temperature changes and moving air causes more instances of freezer burn.
Power indicator light
It can be costly to find out your freezer has been off because of a breaker problem or power outage. A power indicator light gives you a visual sign of the status of the freezer, a simple feature that could save you a lot of money.
Freeze control
Alarm
Because of possible temperature fluctuations, some self-defrosting freezers have an alarm that sounds when the temperature gets too warm inside the freezer. Like a power indicator light, an alarm gives you a little extra security in case of problems.
Refrigerator conversion
With the push of a button, a convertible freezer can be used as either a freezer or refrigerator. This is a nice feature if you have changing needs over the holidays or when entertaining a large number of guests on special occasions.
Castors
Some chest freezers come on castors so they can be moved. Considering the amount of floor space they take up and the weight of a full chest freezer, a model with castors can make it much easier to organize your space.
Vapor lock
Some freezers have a seal that keeps air from escaping or entering the freezer. Models with a vapor lock are energy efficient, but they also take some serious muscle to open. If you don’t need to get into your freezer often, a door that’s tough to open probably won’t cause a problem.
Freezer prices
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Inexpensive: For less than $200, you can find several upright models with a capacity of 3 cubic feet and chest freezers with a capacity between 2.1 and 6.9 cubic feet. Some of the upright freezers come in different finishes, such as slate or stainless steel.
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Mid-Range: In the $200 to $600 range are chest freezers with a capacity from 5.3 to 17.7 cubic feet, including some baskets and dividers for organization. Upright models range from 3 to 20 cubic feet, with many self-defrosting models and adjustable shelves. Many upright models come in different finishes, too.
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Expensive: Between $600 and $1,000, you’ll find uprights with a capacity of 13.8 to 21 cubic feet that are self-defrosting, have reversible doors, and can be converted to a refrigerator. Internal organization options are usually more durable and of higher quality at this price. The chest freezers have a capacity between 10.9 and 24.8 cubic feet and have castors, safety locks, and baskets and dividers.
- Premium: For over $1,000, you can find upright models with a capacity between 17.7 and 20.8 cubic feet. These models come in various finishes, are self-defrosting, convert to a refrigerator, and often have electronic temperature controls and door and temperature alarms.
Tips
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Decide where you’ll keep the freezer before you buy. Chest freezers take up more floor space. Uprights require more clearance around the freezer to open the door.
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Open the freezer door as infrequently as possible. This will keep frost from building up inside.
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Keep your freezer organized. Label the foods so you can quickly find what you need.
- Consider mobility. Chest freezers with castors can actually be easier to move than upright freezers. They allow you to adjust the position of the freezer even when it’s fully loaded.
FAQ
Q. What is the typical height of a chest freezer? I’m short and worry I won’t be able to reach the bottom of the freezer.
A. A typical chest freezer stands anywhere from 30 to 33 inches high. There’s some variation by model, but that is a standard height range. Castors add to the height. For those who might be worried about reaching the bottom of the freezer, measure the distance from your waist to the floor. If the height of the freezer is above your waist, it might be hard to reach some foods. You can opt to keep a stool nearby if necessary.
Q. What’s the benefit of a freezer that can also be used as a refrigerator?
A. If you have a large family, you’ve probably already realized the benefit of having a second refrigerator. Convertibility gives you more options. For example, if you host large family parties or frequently entertain big crowds, converting a freezer to a refrigerator lets you keep fully prepared dishes ready to go without needing to thaw them. Once the party’s over, you can convert the unit back to a freezer for the leftovers. Keep in mind that many convertible models have vapor lock doors that are harder to open. These models don’t usually work as well as a refrigerator if you need to access it frequently.
Q. How often should I defrost a chest freezer?
A. It’s time to defrost if the frost is between one inch and one-and-a-half-inches thick. You’ll need to take everything out of the freezer first. How often you’ll need to defrost depends on how often you open the lid and how long the lid stays open.
